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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TOPFLIGHT clubs are expected to submit their 2014 squads to the Premiership offices by Friday to allow the league to start processing player licences.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer said the move is meant to allow his office to verify documents submitted by clubs so that if there are any irregularities they are attended to before the Zifa transfer window closes on March 31.
“What clubs have to understand is that we want them to provide their full list not provisional squads as earlier reported so that we start working on licences. If players are coming from other clubs, we want clearance letters to accompany the documents that they deliver to us by end of business on Friday. If there is no clearance letter for a player joining a new club, we will not register that player.
“By asking the clubs to submit their lists now, we are also doing our duty as a professional league to protect players that teams tend to dump at the last minute. I believe that by now clubs know the players they want and it is only fair for players that are not in their plans to seek employment elsewhere before the window closes,” Ndebele said.
He said clubs that want to make adjustments before the March 31 cut off will be allowed to make additions or subtractions to their squads.
Most teams have been busy in the transfer market, with Dynamos and How Mine who had an early 2014 season kick off due to their participation in the Orange Caf Champions League and Orange Confederation Cup respectively almost done.
Harare giants Dynamos have during the season’s break managed to lure defender Themba Ndlovu from Buffaloes, defensive midfielder Walter Mukanga (Triangle), Masimba Mambare from rivals Highlanders, Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa) and Tafadzwa Rusike (clubless).
How Mine who lost striker Simba Sithole to Ajax Cape Town of South Africa were also busy in the transfer market getting Young Warriors’ goalkeeper Donovan Bernard from Aces Youth Academy.
They also roped in ex-DeMbare defenders Morris Kadzola and George Magariro, former Caps United midfielder Marvel Samaneka and Edmore Muzanenhamo from Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League outfit Ntabazinduna Prison.
Their top goal scorer in the Orange Confederation Cup with three goals from two matches Kuda Musharu joined them from Monomotapa.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders have also managed to attract quality players in the form of Kudakwashe Mahachi who is on loan from South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, the trio of Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni and striker Charles Sibanda from FC Platinum.
Attacking midfielder Valentine Ndaba joined Bosso from Shabanie Mine with winger Rahman Kutsanzira retracing his footsteps back to the club from Caps United.
Goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni and Felix Chindungwe complete the list of players that have been signed by Bosso having turned out for Chicken Inn last season.
Highlanders’ attempts to sign national team midfielder Danny “Deco” Phiri from Chicken Inn appear to have hit a brick wall with the player also said to have lost hope in joining the Bulawayo giants.
His agent Fortune Chisale is expected in Bulawayo today to meet Chicken Inn.
Despite assembling a formidable side Highlanders does not have a capable anchorman and right back.
However, it is the capture of Chindungwe that might see the club’s registration for the player taking long as Chicken Inn claim that the dreadlocked player has a contract with them, yet reports say his deal with the Innscor Africa powered club expired on December 31.
Submitting registration papers to the league early should be a blessing to Bosso as the matter is likely to be resolved within the next month, meaning that Chindungwe could play for Highlanders when the season starts at the end of March.
Smarting from losing 25 players from last season’s squad, 2013 BancABC Sup8r Knockout champions Shabanie Mine FC have signed 10 players to bolster their squad.
The Zvishavane club was only left with five players from last season, goalkeeper Victor Twaliki who played most of their matches, Rodney Mware who had spent the better part of the year nursing injury, captain Smart Muchabaya, Willard Ngonya and Philip Sithole.
Chinda Boys coach John Phiri who replaced Luke Masomere has brought along former Highlanders striker Patrick “Mboma” Mpofu and Xolani Ncube who he coached at the Beitbridge based Zifa Central Region Division One Soccer League club Town United FC in the second half of last season.
The former FC Platinum Under-19 coach has also snapped goalkeeper London Zulu from ZPC Hwange, former Young Warriors and FC Platinum midfielder Edmore Tsoro, Marvellous Dikinya from New West and the Chegutu duo of Simbarashe Domingo and Ashley Mokoena.
Shabanie Mine has also recalled Lloyd Ngara and Nyasha Mpofu who spent last season at How Mine.
Twenty-one year old ex-Highlanders juniors’ midfielder Ryan Mabhena who was in the same group with Arnold Ndiweni and Knox Mutizwa that was coached by Dumaza Dube in 2009 and spent last season at New West completes the list of players that have agreed terms with Shabanie Mine.
FC Platinum captured former Highlanders gunman Njabulo Ncube, Tarisai Rukanda from Shabanie Mine, Stephen Sibanda (Buffaloes), Aces Youth Academy duo of Walter Musona and Wisdom Mutasa as well as reigning Soccer Star of the Year finalist Gift Bello who dumped Dynamos.
Saul Chaminuka coached ZPC Kariba who will use Gwanzura for their home games signed 15 players. They opted to go for experienced players in the form of the trio of Norman Togara, Pardon Chinungwa and Limited Chikafa who were at Triangle last season, ex-Monomotapa forward Obey Mwerahari, the Shabanie Mine duo of Caleb Masocha and Peter Muzondo, striker Tawanda Nyamandwe, Tawanda Munyanduri and David Rediyoni all captured from Caps United.
Moses Makanje who turned out for Tripple B last season and relegated Black Mambas’ trio of Ben Nyahunzwi, Tsepo Ranthokoane and goalkeeper Tonderayi Mateyaunga are also part of ZPC Kariba’s squad.
Norest Mukwezaramba signed from Gunners and Hugh Chikosa complete the 25-member ZPC Kariba squad.
Mutare’s Buffaloes have snapped up Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Frankson Bushiri, Blessed Mbavaira, Pardon Marima, Pervington Zimunya and Fungai Chirinda who were Shabanie Mine’s backbone and followed Masomere.
Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas’ new acquisitions expected to be in his final squad include former Bosso striker Graham Ncube who spent the better part of last season at Bantu Rovers, the duo of Ishmael Lawe and Passmore Bernard who were with relegated Motor Action as well as former Gunners and national team midfielder Ramson Zhuwawo.
Hwange only have striker Aleck Marime as their only signing.
Online Reporter